The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-10
sTEEPLECHASING AsAGL0RIOUS
AND EXHiLARA1ING SPORT.
Improving Men, Women and Horses
Its Origin In This Country
Noted Feats Of Bravery.

gall0plng str0ng under you, ana with
firm thud, nor the slightest waver to
palsy nerve. The expert horseman
instinctively knows the meaning of
the firm gallop and strong, hard tug
at the bit; it imparts reliance to the
rider, and says in thunder tones:
mo boiling here" II is then the
horsemau feels his keenest joy and be-
lieves his winning chances are good.
When the water jump is say thirty
feet from takeof to landing, it is
from its size the most picturesque
and thrilling, besides being the most
difficult. To describe the exquisite
sensation that steeplechase rider, a
hunting man or woman feels when
sailing high in air over water, with
the assurance that they possess the
requisite equine mettle under them,
is, in fact, beyond the power of any
pen to describe, so exquisite is an
enthusiasts feeling, il the diction of
hunting and racing writers are
worthy OF credence.
For the purpose of encouraging
the breed OF cavalry horses and hun
ters, some fifty odd years ago steeple-
chasing was brought into notice, aud
certainly three and four mile races
under high weights would establish
a market, II anything would, for
horses capable Of great exertion, and
the general breed of such horses
would be improved. Aylesbury, St.
Adams and other places in England
were then the spots where the origi-
nal creation OF steeplechasing began.
A natural country was selected, with
a church steeple in view, some four
miles distant as the crow flies, with
little opportunity to take any part of
the run along a road, each man being
permitted to take line Of country
Of his own; il was therefore almost
impossible to witness the whole
steeplechase excepting to 90 across
country yourself. The fences we're
very high aud almost impracticable.
Yet there we're not many cases OF Sc
rious disaster to either horse or rider (;
hence the sport became popular, aud
a circular course was chosen TO ad-
init OF many spectators seeing the
hunt without trouble or risk by plac-
ing themselves on a surrounding en-
inence or by taking advantage Of a
race stand.
For many years, at the beginning
of steeplechasinq, Mr.. Elmore's Lot
terry and Gaylad swept everything
before them, although carrying
fourteen and eighteen pounds over
weight as penalty, as high then as
lSS pounds being carried. Although
good hunters make good steeple-
chasers frequently, good steeple-
chaser rarely makes a good hunter,
the principle object to steeplechasers
for hunting being their non -adapta-
bility to take their Jumps in a slow,
cool headed, methodical manner,
without a tendency 10 rush their
fences, as quiet going is constantly
demanded in hunting; where,
for instance, a check" or
double" or any Of the fire.
quent and sudden reversals Of
the hounds are occasioned by scent.
One chief reason why high, stiff
fences shall abound upon good
courses is that il is desirable 10 en-
courage breeders to improve their
stock by breeding a superior class OF
animal, aud prevents horse breeders
aud trainers putting in wee ly, worn
out, fat running stock, as is fire.
qucntly seen in hurdle racing, Tor the
hight Of the fences 10 this class OF
races encourages not only a poor class
OF horses, but paves the way 10 an
undesirable quantity and quality III
frauds. Indeed, IL may be said, the
smaller the fences the more broken
backs, for the reason that the sim
plicity OF the course enables these
weedy animals TO gallop carelessly.
and when 10 an exhausted condition
stick their legs into the hurdle and,
tired muscular tibers would not en-
able them TO obtain quick recovery.
Although the hunting clubs in the
South and North, but more particu.
larly North, have drag hunts after
the now notorious aniseed. which is
not legitimate hunting. still IL should
develop among the hunt horses a
number OF good steeplechasers, and
IL is surprising Mr.. Thorowski, Mr..
Frank Griswold and the younger
Belmonts have not been enabled 10
Gull few Of the flowers OF the hun,
for the American course; for the life
Of the drag Is frequently cracker"
aud the staying power Of hun
ter Is gagged 10 a pound. And
rs IL was once said OF a
famous horse dealer in England,
who was one Of the few from whom
good horse could be leased for
hunting. IL hate 10 rent q hunter
for drags, as you can usually draw
thorns enough out Of their knees IA
make a crows nest" That good
hunters should and do make good
steeplechasers, ht 10 circle any
steeplcchase course, IL seen daily in
England during the racing season.
The following description Of a hun,
near Ugbrook Park, England, is ia.
teresting a. showing the severe work
hunters are called upon to perform.
Seeing a fight Of rails close to
the river bank, aud concluding that
they we're placed there to prevent
cattle from crossing the ford, 7
rode his horse straight at them
thinking to land him perhaps mp "a
his girths op dropping into the
stream. But, alas the spot proved
10 be one Of the deepest pools 10 the
Tyne river. The horse and rider
disappeared, but the latter, havins
, been an expert swimmer at Elton
soon came 10 the surface. and strik.
ing out vigorously gained the oppo.
site bank in safety. But how greal
was his dismay on looking around tC
fnd that the horse was nowhere q
be seen Not wave nor q
gurgle indicated his whereabout.
below, and for some second,
T. felt assured the horse had beer
stunned, aud had gone TO the bottom
like stone. Happily he was wrong
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